Playes-piano



F. B. LONG.

PLAYER PIANO APPLICATION r|LEn1uLY1o,|91s.

1 ,325,523. Patented Dee. 23, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

U W Suva/Mofa F. B. LONG.

PLAYER PIANO.

APPLICATION FILED JULY I0 1916. 1,325,523. Patented Dec. 23,1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

i: 1 E'. Z

I |Vf. I

I 3' //A/ 24 25 3' I8' l i I4 x7 F. Bi LONG.

PLAYER PIANO.

APPLICATION FILED IuLY I0` I9I6.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Patented Dec. 23, 1919.

WTE STATES PATENT FFICE.

FRANK B. LONG, OF LGS ANGELES, CALIFDRNIA, ASSIGNOR T0 SOLELLE COMPANY,

Y., CORPRATIN 0F NEW YORK.

PLAYER-PIANO.

Continuation of application Serial No. 9,289, filed February 19, 1915.

Specification of Letters Eatent.

Serial No. 108,254.

To all 't0/ wm t may concern.'

Be it known that l, FRANK B. Lone, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los ngeles, in the county of Los ngeles and State of California, have invented certain neu7 and useful i iprovements in Player- Pianos, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

r:the Object of the invention is to provide a new and improved player piano arranged to permit of playing it by hand in the usual manner or playing' it automatically by the use of a note sheet and with the melody or the music in clear distinction to a subdued accompaniment.

in order to accomplish the desired result, use is made oiC soundinfr devices and automatic means for actuating` sounding; device to produce a normal sound while actuating another sounding` device in subdued rela-- tion to the rst-named sounding device.

A aractical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawings forming' a part of this speciiication, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the Views.

Figure 1 is a cross section of the player piano;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross section oiz a portion of the same;

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of a modified form of the controlling means for the hammer rail sections;

Fig. d is a faceA View or1 a portion of the note sheet; and

5 is a sectional plan View of the se on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

The strings 6 of the piano are adapted to be sounded by hammers 7 normally resting on a. hammer rail made in sections 8 pivoted on a rod held on a supporting' rail 9 mounted on links fulcrumed on brackets 10 fixed on the piano frame 11. Each hammer rail section 8 has its rear tace provided with a felt cushion 82 and each hammer rail section is of a width to accommodate one or more successive hammers 7 preferably, however. three hammers, as shown in Fig. 3. `Each or" the hammer rail sections 8 is pressed rearwardlj,Y into haltstroke position by spring 1 prei'erably attached to the back of the supporting rail 9 and bearing' with their` free ends on the bottom of a recess formed in the front face of the corresponding hammer rail section 8. ln order to move any one of the hammer rail sections into ull stroke position it is necessary to swing the said hammer rail section forwardly until the front face of the hammer rail section abuts against the back of the supporting rail 9, as will be readily understood by reference to Fig. 2, which discloses one hammer rail section 8 in half-stroke rearward position and another hammer rail section in retracted forward position. Normally, the iammer rail sections 8 are in half-stroke position and whenever it is desired to emphasize a particular note in the melody when the corresponding' hammer rail section is retracted to full stroke position to allow the corresponding' hammer to sound the string with full :torce in contra-distinction to the sounding` of the. strings by the hammers 7 which are in half-stroke position and produce but a subdued accompaniment.

In order to move the hammer rail section 8 into retracted full-stroke position, use is made of pneumatic-s 14 mounted on a wind chest 15 and having` their movable members connected by strings or other flexible connections 16 with hammer rail sections, the flexible connections 16 extendingl through suitable guideways 9 arranged on the supporting' rail 9. The wind chest 15 is mounted on the piano frame 11 and is connected by tubes 1T with tracker board openings 18 of a tracker board 18, over which passes the note sheet 19 in the usual manner. The tracker board 18 is provided with the usual tracker board openings 2O adapted to register with the note sheet openings 21 for controlling the striking movement of the hammers 7 as hereinafter more fully explained, the note sheet also having supplementary note sheet apertures Q2 adapted to register with the tracker board openings 23 whenever it is desired to retract a corresponding hammer rail .section 8 for the purpose above eX- plained. The supplementary note sheet openings 22 are preferably arranged along the side edges or borders of the note sheet 19` In practice it is only necessary to employ about sin pneumatics 14: for retracting a corresponding number' oi? hammer rail sections 8 to accentuate the melody of an ordinary piece or music, it being understood that six retracted rails accommodate eighteen successive hammers, say, of the middle portion of the piano action, as indicated in Fig. 3.

The hammer rail sections 8 when in halfstroke position rest on a rod 24 mounted on arms 25 fulcrumed on a rod 26 held on the bottom of the supporting rail 9, and one of the said arms 25 is provided with a depending arm 27 pressed on by a spring 28 and engaged by an eye 29 on the movable member of a pneumatic 30 mounted on the wind chest. The pneumatic 30 is connected by a flexible tube 31 with another supplementary tracker' board opening 32 adapted to register with a corresponding supplementary note sheet opening 33 of a length corresponding to the note sheet openings 22 for the melody to be emphasized at the time. It is understood that as long as the note sheet opening 33 is in register with the tracker board opening 32 the pneumatic 30 is held in collapsed position and consequently the rod 24 is in rearmost position with the hammer rail section 8 in rearward half-stroke position by the action of their springs. It is further understood that during this time the hammers 7 are held in half-stroke position except those abutting against a hammer rail section 8 retracted by the corresponding note sheet opening 22 registering with a tracker board opening 23. When a nete sheet opening 22 is in register with a tracker board opening 32 then one or more regular note sheet openings 21 are in register with the corresponding tracker board openings 20 to cause the hammers in full stroke position to sound the corresponding strings 6 while the accompaniment is played bv hammers 7 in half-stroke position. When the note sheet opening 33 has moved out of register with the tracker board opening 32 then the pneumatic 30 is infiated and the spring 28 now imparts a return swinging motion to the arm 27 and consequently to the arms 25 to move the rod 24 forwardly and thereby swingingr the hammer rail sections 8 from half-stroke position into fullstroke position, and the remainder of the music is executed with the hammers at fullstroke position unless the hammer supporting rail 9 is swung rearwardly to move all the hammer rail sections 8 into half-stroke position. v

The regular tracker board openings 20 are connected by flexible tubes 34 with pneumatics 35 preferably in tiers and mounted on the piano frame 11, each movable member of a pneumatic 35 being connected with a corresponding wippen 36 by a lifter rod 37. Each wippen 36 forms part of the usual piano action and is connected in the usual manner with the hammer 7 so that when a note sheet aperture 21 register-i with a tracker board opening 20 then the corresponding pneumatic 35 is actuated to impart a swinging motion to the corresponding hammer 7 with a View to sound the corresponding string 6, it being understood that this action takes place whether a hammer is in half-stroke or in full-stroke position.

In order to permit the player to normally move the hammer rail sections into halfstroke position, use is made of the usual soft pedal connected with a lever bar 38 engaging the supporting rail 9 to swing the latter rearwardly whenever the soft pedal is pressed.

Instead of using the pneumatic, 30, tube 31, tracker board opening 32 and note sheet opening 33, use may be made of an arm 40 (see Fig. 5) under the control of the player and mounted to slide transversely on the piano frame preferably at one side thereof. The rear end of the arm 40 is connected by a pin 41 with a slot 42 formed in the lower end of an arm 43 which takes the place of the arm 27 previously mentioned. Thus when the arm 40 is pushed rearwardly a forward swinging movement is given to the rod 24 so as to move all of the hammer rail sections 8 into retracted position against the back of the supporting rail 9. A spring 44 presses against the under side of the arm 4() to hold one of a series of notches 45 formed in the top of the arm 40 in engagement with a fixed pin, 46 on the piano frame. The forward end of the arm 40 is preferably provided with a knob 47 under the control of the operator to enable the latter to move the arm 40 rearward or forward for moving the arm rail sections 8 from half-stroke into full-stroke position or allowing the arm rail sections to return from full-stroke position to half-stroke position by the action of their springs. The arm 40 is held in a desired position by one of the notches 45 engaging the pin 46.

The operation is as follows:

lVhen the instrument is played by hand the hammer rail sections 8 are held in forward position against the supporting rail 9 by the rod 24 pressed forward by the action of the spring 28 which latter is sufficiently' strong to overcome the springs. All of the hammers 7 are now in full stroke position and when the keys are played the hammers sound the corresponding strings according to the touch of the player and if it is desired to execute pianissimo passages of music the soft pedal is pressed to swing the supporting rail 9 and with it the hammer rail sections 8 rearwardly into half-stroke position.

It is understood that when the piano is played by hand the pneumatics 14 and 30 swe in inactive inflated position and the flexible connections 16 are slack (see Fig. 1).

l,When the piano is played automatically with the use of a note sheet 19 then the pneumatic.30.-is deflated orfcollapsed wheneven the note sheety opening -33 is in register WithQthetracker board-aperture 32 so that the. rod 24 is swung rearwardly to allow .all of the hammer rail sections 9 to swing-rearwardly into. half-stroke position, such rail sections 8 being held in full stroke position whenever the pneumatic 30 is inflated with the'note sheet closing the tracker aperture 32, as shown in Figyl. As soon as one of the melody notesheet-openings 22 registers with; its corresponding trackerv board opening 23 then the-corresponding hammer rail section 8 is retracted into full-stroke positionlandv at about the same time a note sheet openingfQl. moves in register with its tracker hoard` opening 20 to cause the corresponding pneumatic ische-actuated.- When this takes place the corresponding hammer is thrown rearward to sound its string. Any other tracker board opening21v thatzmoves in register with the vcorresponding tracker board openings causes actuation of the corresponding hammers- -but as the latter are in half stroke position it is evident` that subdued accompaniment sounds, are produced 1in: .coni tradistmction to the loud sounds ofj-.thef

melody.-

Having thus describedln'lly ylllventiolitigi-avia',at

I Claim-and desire to .securebyLettepS Patentis- Y y 1. A player piano comprising sounding devices, hammers for sounding the said devices,-pneumatic actuatmgameans for actu- A ating; the, Said Y; hammers, ,at hanin'ierf Arail made. movable sections, and- .a-frod yextending the full length of .the hammer rail-'and mounted to swing, the said hammenrail sections resting against'th'e said rod when in reduced stroke position.

2. 'A player pianp, comprising strings, hammers for sounding-.the fstrings, pneumatic actuating means for actuating. the hammers, a hammer rail madej in movable sections, a rod mounted to swing and eX- tendingthe fulllen'gth of the hammer rail` and against which the hammerrail sections rest when in reduced stroke position, and pneumatic actuating means for moving any f i one of the hammer yrail sections into position: for holdingthe corresponding hammers in full stroke position; l

51A player piano, comprising strings hammers for sounding the strings, pneumatic actuating meansl for actuating the hammers, a hammer rail' made in movable secti0nS,-a rod extending the full length of the -hammcr rail and mounted to swing, the said hammer rail sections resting against. said rod when in reduced.strokevposition,

and means for swinging said rod to move thev said raily sections simultaneously into tull- .stroke position.

A player piano, comprising-strings., hammers for sounding the strings,y pneumatic actuatingmeans for vactuating the hammers, a hammer rail made in movable sections, a' rod extending the ull length of the hammer rail and on which the hammer rail sections rest when in reduced stroke position, means for holding said hammer rail sections against said rOdfa'nd in alineinent with each other, and pneumatic actuating means "for moving any one of the hammer rail sections into position for holding the corresponding hammers in full stroke position.

5. A player piano, comprising strings, hammers for sounding the strings, pneumatic actuating means for actuating the hammers, a hammer rail made in movable sections, a rod mounted to swing and extending the full length of the hammer rail,

the corresponding hammer -.infull strokeposition, a tracker board connected with the said pneumaticA actuating means for the sounding devices and the said pneumatic actuatingmeaiis for the hammer rail sections, a note sheet adapted to pass over the saidtracker board and having separate perfoi-ations for the pneumatic actuating means for the sounding devices and the pneumatic actuating-means for the hammer rail sections, and means for swinging the said rod to move all the hammer rail sections int-o position to hold thehainmers-in full-stroke.position.

Gif A'fplayer piano provided =with strings, hammers for sounding the strings, means for actuating the hammers, a hammer rail made-in sectionsfor the hammers to rest on individually, a rod extending the full length of theA hammer rail, a supporting rail yon which, the said hammerA rail sections are movably mounted, springs pressing the said f hammerrail sectionsagainst the said rod for holding the saine and the hammers nor- .Jmally in half-stroke position, and means for withdrawing the said rail sections individually to full-stroke position.

7. A player piano provided with strings, hammers for actuating the strings, means for-actuating 4the hammers, a hammer rail made in sections for the-hammers to rest on and the hammers normally in half-strokeposition, means for withdrawing the said railV section individually to full-stroke position, and-'means for moving the supporting rail into half-stroke position with the rail y sectioiisinforward withdrawn position. y

individually, a supporting rail on which the- 8. A player pianoprovided with strings, hammers for sounding the strings, means for actuating the hammers, a hammer rail made in sections for the hannners to rest on individually, a supporting rail on which the said hammer rail sections are movably mounted, springs pressing the said hammer rail sections for holding the same and the hammer normally in half-stroke position, a rod extending the full length of the hammer rail and mounted to swing, the said hammer rail sections when in half-stroke position resting on said rod, and means for moving the said rod to swing the rail sections simultaneously to lfull-stroke position.

9. A player piano provided with a supporting rail, a hammer rail made in' sections, pivoted on the said supporting rail,

fsprings pressing the said hammer railsections rearwardly into half-stroke position, flexible connections connected individually at one end with the said hammer rail sec` tions and extending through guideways on the said supporting rail, and pneumatic means connected with theother ends of said iexibleA connections.

41 0. A player' piano; provided'with a sup porting rail, a hammer rail made in s ections 'pivoted oiVV the saidl supporting rail, springs .pressing the said-hammer rail sections rearwardly into half-stroke position,

flexible connections connected individually at one end with the said hammer rail sections and` extending through guideways on the supporting rail, pneumatic means, connected "with" the other'ends of fsaid' flexible connections, a tracker'board having supplementary openings connected with said pneumatic means, and a note sheet adapted to pass over the said tracker board and having supplementary, openings vadapted to register with the said supplementary tracker board' openings to actuate the said pneumatic means to move a corresponding rail ysection forwardly into full stroke position.- A

11. A player piano provided with a supporting rail, a hammer rail made in sections pivoted on the said'supporting rail, springs pressing the said hammer rail sece tions rearwardly, a rod extending the full length-of the' hammer rail at the rear of the hammer railsections, and against which the hammer rail sections rest when in halfstroke position, the said rod being mounted to swing, .pneumatic means connected individually with the hammer rail sections for moving the same forwardly from said rod into .full-stroke position, and means for swinging the said rod to move all the hammer rail sections simultaneously into fullstroke position.

12. A player piano provided with a supporting rail, a hammer rail made in sections pivoted on the said supporting rail springs pressing the Ahammer rail 'sections rearbackward permitting the said springs to re' turn the rail sections to half-stroke position.v

13. In a player piano, the combination with the hammers, and means for actuating the hammers, of a hammer rail made in movable sections, a rod extending the full length of the hammer rail and mounted toV swing forward and backward, and means for holding theI hammer rail sections in halfstrokeyposition' against said rod when the latter iis in its rearward position, the said rod when swung moving all of the hammer rail sections into retracted or full-stroke position.

14. In a player piano, the combination with the hammer, means for actuatinglthe same, and a supporting rail, of a hammer rail made in movable sections pivoted on the supporting rail, fa rod extending along the hammer rail and provided with fulcrumed arms, a depending arm connected with one of said fulcrumedarms, means connected with" the depending'arm for swinging'the rod in a. Jforward and rearward direction, andA springs for pressing the hammer rail sections in a rearward direction, the rod when moved in a forward direction holding all the rail sections against the supporting rail, to permit the notes to be struck with fulllength stroke, and when moved in a rearward direction swinging away from .the movable rail sections allowing them to be forced rearwardly into half-stroke position by the said springs.

15. A player piano provided with a supporting rail, a hammer rail made in sections mounted to swing independently one of the other on the said supporting rail, springs pressing the said pivoted hammer rail sections to hold the latter normally in halfstroke position, a rod mounted to swing and on .which the hammer rail sections rest when in half-stroke position and means for swinging sundry of the said pivoted hammer rail sections independently into full strokeposition.

16. A player piano provided with a supporting rail, a hammer rail made in sections mounted to swing independently one of the other on the said supporting rail, springs pressing the said pivoted hammer rail sections to hold the latter normally in halfstroke position, a rod mounted to swing and on which the hammer rail sections rest when in half-stroke position, and means for moving said rod to swing the hammer rail sections simultaneously Jforwardly into full stroke positions.

17. A player piano provided with a supporting'rail, a hammer rail made in sections mounted to swing independently one -of the other on 4the said supporting rail, springs pressing the said pivoted hammer rail sections to hold the latter normally in halfstroke position, a rod mounted to swing and against which the hammer rail sections are held by said springs, means for swinging the said rod to move the hammer rail sections into retracted, full-stroke position, and means for impartingia swinging motion to the said supporting rail tomove the latter `and with Vit the retracted hammer rail sections into half-stroke position.

-18. A player piano, comprising strings, hammers for sounding the, strings, pneumatic actuatingmeans for actuating the hammers, a hammer rail made in movable sections, a rod extending theV full length of the hammer rail and mounted to swing, the said hammer rail sections lresting against said'frodl when in, reduced stroke position, and means for swinging said rod to move the said rail sections simultaneously "into full-stroke position, said" means 'adapted to maintain said note-sounding devices nornially adjacent the sound producing parts, and said pneumatically actuated mechanisms adapted to increase the distance between said iiote-sounding devices and said sound producing parts.

19. In a player piano, groups of hammers normally of shortened stroke, pneumatics adapted to lengthen the strokes of any groups of said hammers, and means adapted to lengthen the strokes of all of said hainmers independently of said pneumatics.

20. A player piano comprising strings, hammers therefor, a. hammer rail made in rod extending transversely of the hammers and mounted to swing, the said hammer rail sections resting against sai-d rod when in reduced stroke position.

21. A player piano` comprising strings, hammers therefor, a hammer rail made in movable sections normally held in halfstroke position against said hammers, means comprising a rod extending transversely of the hammers and mounted to swing to coact with said sections, and means for actuating said rod to move said sections collectively to full-stroke position.

22. A player piano comprising strings, hammers therefor, a hammer rail made in movable sections normally held in halfstroke position against said hammers, means comprising a rod extending transversely of the hammers and mounted to swing to coact with said sections, and pneumatic means for actuating said rod to move said sections collectively to full-stroke position.

23. A player piano comprising a tracker, strings, hammers therefor, a hammer rail made in movable sections normally held in half-stroke position against said hammers, means comprising a rod extending transversely of the hammers and mounted to swing to coact with said sections, and pneumatic means controlled from the tracker for actuating said rod to movesaid sections collectively to full-stroke position.

24. A player piano comprising sounding devices, hammers for said sounding devices, a. hammer rail made in movable Sections, means comprising a rod extending transversely `,of the hammers and mounted to swing, the said hammer rail sections resting against said rod when in reduced stroke position, and pneumatics for moving any of said rail sections to full stroke position.

25. A player piano comprising a tracker, sounding devices, hammers for said sounding devices, a hammer rail made in movable sections, a rod extending transversely of the 'hammers and mounted to swing, the said hammer rail sections resting against said vrod'when in reduced stroke position, pneumaticsl controlled from the tracker for mov- "ing-:any 'of-said rail sections to full stroke position, and means for actuating said rod to move said sections collectively to fullstroke position.

26. A player piano comprising sounding devices, hammers for said sounding devices, a hammer rail made in movable sections, means comprising a rod extending transversely of the hammers and mounted to swing, the said hammer rail sections resting against said rod when in reduced stroke position, resilient means pressing said sections against said transversely extending rod, and means for withdrawing any of said rail sections to full stroke position. movable sections, and means comprising a 27. A player piano comprising sounding devices, hammers for said sounding devices, a hammer rail made in movable sections, means comprising a rod extending transversely of the hammers and mounted to swing, the said hammer rail sections resting against said rod when in reduced stroke position, resilient means pressing said sections against said transversely extending rod, and means for withdrawing all of said rail sections collectively to full stroke position.

28. In a player piano, the combination with a hammer rail made in movable sections and pneuinatics to actuate same, of flexible operative connections between said sections and said pneumatics.

29. A player piano provided with a hammer rail made in sections pivotally mounted therein, resilient means normally pressing said hammer rail sections rearwardly into reduced stroke position, pneumatics to move any of said hammer' rail sections against said resilient means into full-stroke position,

` and flexible means connecting operatively the several said rail sections individually with their corresponding pneumatics.

30. In a player piano, groups of hammers normally .of shortened stroke, pneumatics for-lengthening the stroke of any groups of said hammers, and manually operated means to lengthen the. strokes of all of said ham mers independently of, and Without moving said pneumatics.

31. In a player piano, a tracker, groups of hammers normally yof shortened stroke, pneumatics controlled from the tracker for lengthening the stro-ke of any groups of said hammers normally of shortened stroke, pneumatics for lengthening the stroke of any groups of said hammers, and other pneumatics, to lengthen the strokes of all of said hammers collectively and independently of, and Without moving said first mentioned pneumatics, both sets of pneumatics being independently controlled from the tracker.

34. In a player piano, a tracker having ducts, groups of hammers normally of shortened stroke, pneumatics controlled by air admission to certain of said ducts for lengthening the stroke of any groups of said hammers, and other pneumatic means controlled by air admission to other of said ducts to lengthen the strokes of all of said hammers independently of, and Without moving said first mentioned pneumatics.

35. In aA player piano, a tracker, groups ot' hammers normally of shortened stroke, pneumatics controlled from the tracker for lengthening the stroke of any groups of sai-d hammers, and manually operated means to lengthen the strokes of all of said hammers independently of, and Without moving said pneumatics.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiix my signature in the presence of a Witness.

FRANK B. LONG. Witness:

THOMAS A. HBL. 

